How can I detect whether a 'Virtual machine' is currently running?

[Shub-Nigurrath]

note that Z0mbies method doesn't work on VirtualPC 2004.

There's a simpler way to check it. Look at below script, taken from elsewhere

PHP Code:

Debug Off
Break On
Dim $iRC,$Msg,$Kix
$iRC=SetOption('Explicit','On')
$iRC=SetOption('NoVarsInStrings','On')
Dim $VMWUser,$VMWPath,$VMWVer,$VMWToolsVer,$HKLMSCCS,$HKLMSMWCV,$CVMVer,$CVMMapper,$CVMMapperVer
$Kix          = SubStr(@KIX,1,4)
If $Kix < "4.22"  
   $Msg = MessageBox('This Script requires at least KiXtart 4.22 ','Version Check',4112)  
   Quit()
EndIf

$HKLMSCCS     = 'HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet'
$HKLMSMWCV    = 'HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion'
$VMWUser      = Trim(ReadValue($HKLMSMWCV + '\Run','VMware User Process'))
$VMWPath      = ReadValue($HKLMSMWCV + '\App Paths\vmware.exe','Path')
$VMWVer       = GetFileVersion($VMWPath +'\vmware.exe','ProductVersion')
$VMWToolsVer  = GetFileVersion(ReadValue($HKLMSCCS + '\Services\VMware Tools Service','ImagePath'),'ProductVersion')
$CVMVer       = GetFileVersion(Left(ReadValue('HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Virtual.PC.Floppy\DefaultIcon',""),-5),'ProductVersion')
$CVMMapper    = ReadValue($HKLMSCCS + '\Services\VPCMap','DisplayName')
$CVMMapperVer = GetFileVersion(ReadValue($HKLMSCCS + '\Services\VPCMap','ImagePath'),'ProductVersion')
? 'VMWare Running: ' + $VMWToolsVer
? 'VMWare Installed: ' + $VMWVer
? 'Connectix Running: ' + $CVMMapperVer
? 'Connectix Installed: ' + $CVMVer 


it's for a particular scripting lang, but it can be easily understood to see which reg keys it is checking.
It works on VPC 2004 also.

I think that the VPCMap.exe file is always present into a VirtualPC

There is a book in this forum's ftp /share/e-books/
Pavol Cerven - Crackproof Your Software
The book describe some methods to detect softice,virtual pc yet.